Feed-water heater



(No Model.)

A. M. ROWE.

FEED WATER HEATER.

sented Mar n. PUERS Pnmvumugmpher, wauingwn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo ALFRED M. ROWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FEEDHWATER HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,634, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed November 9, 1886. Serial No. 218,441. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED M. Rows, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Tater Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

It has heretofore been proposed in feed-wai ter heaters to provide a large area of heatingro surface by passing steam through a set of pipes submerged within a water-chamber. Under such arrangement, however, the shell or casing of the water-chamber is exposed to the air, which' tends to cool the same, and i5 hence to cool-the feed-water in contact with the inner side or wall of said shell or casing, thereby opposing to an objectionable extent lthe action of the heating agent that is employed for raising the temperature of the waao ter to a desirably high degree before it passes to the boiler. It has also been proposed to remedy such defect by conducting the water through pipes or passages submerged or exposed within one or more steam-chambers.

Certain objects of my improvement, gener` ally stated, are to provide means for the circulation of the water from and to one end of the steam chamber; to distribute lthe exhauststeani equally around the water-pipes; to promote the circulation of steam around the water-pipes; to avoid back-pressure of the exhaust-steam; to provide means whereby the apparatus shall have an increased capacity for permitting the collection of sediment from the feed-water without obstructing thcinlet and without necessitating the objectionable feature of frequently blowing off the sediment; to provide for the expansion and contraction of the Ywater-pipes, and toiprovide certainnovel and 4o improved features of construction all tending to the general efficiency of the apparatus.

rIo these and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in t-he claims.

As a prominent feature of my improvement, I provide two concentrically-disposed steamchambers, whereof the inner steam-chamber communicates with the surrounding outer steam-chamber solely at one end, and is pro-A vided at its opposite end with the inlet through which steam is let into the apparatus. In connection with said two chambers I provide water-passages having their walls exposed within both chambers, the outer one of which latter is provided with a steam-outlet, whereby steam admitted into the one chamber will be compelled to first traverse the heating-surface therein and to then pass through and traverse the heating-surface exposed in the other chamber. By such means an effective circulation of steam over the entire area of heating-surface is maintained and highly economical results attained.

A further feature of my improvement is that I incorporate within the wall intervening between the inner and outer steam-chambers a series of water-pipes arranged to expose their surfaces in part within one and in part within the other' of said chambers, which arrangement presents a greater area of heating-surface than .if an annular water-chamber were enr ployed between the two steam-chambers.

A further feature consists in a large watersupply pipe or cylindric water-chamber arranged centrally within a steam-chamber and supplying a lower settlingchamber, from which latter'a set of return water-pipes rise and stand aroundv the centrally-disposed water-supply chamber, whereby a large area of heating-surface is exposed within the steamchamber, the water conducted through comparatively small passages, and the initial supply of water let int-o the settling-chamber direct from the water-supply pipe or supplychamber, in which latter, however, the Water is heated before entering the settling-chamber. .By such arrangement the sediment is also free to deposit in the first instance in the settlingchamber without liability of clogging up small piping, as in cases where the water passes through a return-coil before entering the settling-chamber.

A further feature consists in an upper distributing-chamber connected with and snpported by a set of water-pipes rising from the base portion of the apparatus, the said upper distributing-chamber being separate from the inclosing-drum, and arranged somewhat below or lower down than the top of the drum, in order that it may rise and fall with the expansion and contraction of the water-pipes. This feature avoids breakage of the parts as well as lOO involving other advantages, as will be hereinafter seen.

A further feature consists in providing said upper distributing chamber with discharge and blow-off pipes extending through the top of the drum and susceptible of an end movement through said top, whereby they may move with any rise and fall of the drum.

A further feature consists in the hereinafterdescribed annular settling-chamber constituting the base of the apparatus and having a uniform depth throughout its entire area, combined with and surrounding the straight steam-passage, which for the entire distance between the horizontal planes of the top and bottom of said chamber extends vertically and centrally up through the chamber, whereby a comparatively large area of water-space of uniform depth throughout is formed around the straight vertical'steam-passage, and the said chamber freed from the presence of any obstruction whereon sediment may lodge, in place of settling directly upon the bottom ofthe chamber. Such construction, form, and arrangement of settling-chamber will 'be readily distinguished from a heretofore-proposed construction of settling chamber provided with a sloping bottom and combined with a steam-inlet pipe or passage having within the chamber a horizontal portion entering adjacent to the shallower part thereof, thereby affording an obstruction whereon sediment may co1leet,[in'place of settling upon the bottoni of a chamber of uniform depth, as in my improvement, wherein the premature collection indepth of sediment at anyparticularpoint in the chamber is avoided, and hence the danger of clogging up any inlet or circulating pipe or passage over or adjacent to such point obviated. In addition to this, the sediment which has collected in myimproved form of chamber can be readily cleaned out by manual operation, since there is a clear space around the vertical steam-passage and between the horizontal top and bottom of the chamber.

Further features consist in certain combinations and organizations tending to the general eflicieney ofthe apparatus.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical ccntral section of feed-water apparatusembodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the saine on the line xx of Fig. l.

The steam-chamber A,which is formed within a suitable shell or casing, A', is connected at its bottom with a steam-inlet, A2, and at its side with the exhaust or discharge outlet A3, which latter is desirablyloeated at a point adjacent to or not far above the bottom of the said steam-chamber.

The system of return water-pipes, herein shown as contained within the steam-chamber, is as follows: An ordinary water-conducting pipe, b, which in practice is connected with a suitable source of water-supply, enters the steam-chaniber at the upper portion of the latter, and shortly after its entrance into said chamber is expanded to provide or is connected with a pipe or chamber, B, which eX- tends do wnwardly th rough the steam-chamber, and which may be regarded as an enlarged water-supply pipe or a water-suppl y chamber inclosed within the steam-chamber. rIhe water-supply pipe or chamber B is, by preference, arranged centrally within the steamchamber, in order that the water therefrom may be more conveniently distributed to one or more series of return water-pipes,which are in communication with the lower portion of the supply pipe or chamber B, and which stand around the same. These said return waterpipes, which thus communicate at their lower ends with the supply pipe or chamber B, risc from the lower portion of the steam-chamber and are at their upper ends placed in communication with a discharge-pipe, C, which is common to all of said rcturnpipes,and which serves as a means for feeding the heated water toa boiler.

As a means for placing the water-supply pipe or chamber B in communication with the return water-pipes, said supply pipe or chamber is at its lower end connected with an annular water-chamber, D, with which latter the upwardly-extending return-pipes are connected. This chamber D not only serves as an efiicient means` for supplying the said upwardly-extending return-pipes, but, being arranged at the base of the apparatus, it also provides a desirable settling-chamber having a capacity which permits the accumulation of considerable sediment without rendering it necessary to frequently blow off the sediment which has accumulated therein. I n order to promote the efficiency of chamber D for the last-named purpose, it is provided with asuitable hand-hold plate, D, or the like,whereby access may be had to it when so desired.

By arranging the annular chamber D around the stcaln-inlet pipe or passage A2 the water within said chamber will be subject to the heated wall or pipe of said inlet, and at the same time the latter will be placed in position to enter the steam-chamber at or about the center of its bottom, so as to permitan effective distribution of the steam about the waterpipes contained within the steam-chamber, as will be hereinafter more particularly referred to. In order to place the said return waterpipes in communication with the dischargepipe G, all of said pipes are desirably connected with an annular waterchamber,E, arranged within and at the upper portion of the steam-chamber A. By such arrangement the pipe b can be extended down through the space e, which is bounded by said annular chamber.

The return-pipes, which are connected at their lower ends with the lower water-chamber D and at their upper ends connected with the upper water-chambcrD, are desirably arranged around the water-supply pipe or chamber B, so as to constitute two sets, the pipes F of the set nearest the water-supply pipe or cham- IIO ber being either arranged to form an annular series, as in Fig. 2, or irregularly distributed, as may be desired, while the set of pipes F,which are farthest from the watervsupply pipe or chamber, are arranged to form an annular series, preferably concentric to the inner wall of the steam-chamber. Thepipes F of this said annular series are connected together by partition strips or webs f, which extend the length of the pipes, in which way anr annular chamber, a, extending nearly lthe height of the steam-chamber, is formed between the inner wall of the steam-chamber and.

-pipes exposed therein, and from thence it passes through the space or passage e, formed by the annular chamber E, so as to reach the upper portion of the steam -ehamber, from whence it passes downwardly through the annular chamber or annular subdivision a of the steam-chamber to the exhaust-outlet A3. Dur# ing this return or downward passage of the steam it will be iu contact with those portions of the outer annular series of return pipe which, by reason of their web-connection, are exposed within sad annular chamber a.

By the foregoing arrangement the steam is equally distributed over the surface of all of the water-pipes, and since it circulates rst from one end of the heater to the other and then back to a point adjacent to the inlet end of the steam-chamber. the full value of the steam is utilized.

It will be observed that by the arrangement of return water-pipes I obtain a circulation of water from one end of the heater to the other and then back to the end of the heater at which it first entered, thereby insuring its becoming properly heated. It will also be seen that the feed-water is not in contact with the outer shell of the heater, as in cases where the wa ter-chamber is formed by said shell and steampipes submerged in the water; and hence by my arrangement there isno liability of the feed-water becoming cool by contact with the said shell or casing. Thelarge chamber or subdivision a of the steam-chamber permits the expansion of the exhaust-steam which enters through inlet A, whereby there is an absolute freedom from back-pressure.

The circulating-chamber E, at the upper end of the steam-chamber, while constituting an efficient circulating-chamber for theheated water from pipes F and F', also serves as a The main steam-chamber Ais by this,

scum-chamber, and in view of such capacity it is provided with a pipe, e', extending up through the top wall of the steam-chamber and equipped with a blow-off cock, c2. y

It will be observed that the water-inlet pipe b, the blow-off pipe e', and the pipe C, which is to be connected with a boiler, and which will usually have a safety-valve, all extend up through suitable stuffing-boxes at the top of the steam-chamber, in which way the pipes or tubes confined within the steam-chamber will not, by reason of longitudinal expansion or contraction, work loose at their point of connection with the top of chamber D, that forms a bottom for the subdivisions of the steamchamber, it being obvious that the pipes can be fitted so as to be susceptible of a desirable latitude of end movement through their respective stuing-boxes.

The centrally-arranged watersuppl y pipe or water-supply chamber B can be connected in any suitable way with the lower and distributing settling-chamber D-as, for example, by means of a pipe-connection, b', as shown in Fig. l, wherein said pipe extends a short way down into the steam-inlet port or passage A".

That I claim as my invention is* 1. In a feed-water heater, the two concentrically-disposed steam-chambers, whereof the inner steam-chamber communicates with the surrounding outer steam-chamber solely at one end, and is provided at its opposite end with. the inlet through which steam is let into the apparatus, combined with water-conducting passages having their walls exposed within both of said chambers, the outer one of these two chambers being provided with an outlet arranged whereby steam admitted into the one chamber shall be compelled lto tirst traverse the heating-surface therein exposed, and then pass through and traverse the heating-surface exposed in the other chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In a feed-water heater, the inner and outer communicating steam-chambers combined with a series of water-pipes incorporated in the partition-wall between the two steamvchambers and exposing portions of their surfaces in both of said chambers, whereby an enlarged area of heating-surface is exposed to steam within the two chambers, substantially as set forth.

3. In a feed-water heater, the combination,

lIO

with a steam-chamber, ofthe een trallydisposed water-suppl y pipe B, opening at one end into and supplying a lower settling-chamber, and a set of return water-pipes, F, leading up from the said settling-chamber and surrounding the water-supply chamber, whereby a large area of heating-surface is exposed within the steamchamber, the water conducted through the same by comparatively small passages, and an efficient provision made for the deposit of sediment, substantially as described.

4. In a feed-water heater, the combination, with a steam-chamber, of the centrally-disposed water-supply chamber B, a lower settling-ehambcr supplied from the centrally-disposed watervcliamberand surrouiuling a stcampassage which opens into the steam'chamber, and return water-pipes leading upwardly from the settlingchamber and surrounding the centrally disposed watersupply chamber, the said cent-rally'disposed water-chamber being in alignment with the steam-inlet, but con traetedjust above the point where the steaminlet opens into the steam-chamber, whereby steam admitted into the steam'chamber shall be detieetcd by the water-supply chamber toward the surrounding water-pipcs, substantially as described.

5. In a i`eed-water heater, a set ot" waterpipes rising from a settling-chamber at the base ot the heater, combined with an upper distributingechambercommunicating with and supported within a steam-receiving drum or casing by the upper ends of said water-pipes7 said upper distributing-chamber being flisposed below and separate from the top ofthe chamber within the steam-receivingdrum and i being i'ree to bodily rise or l'all with the expansion or contraction ot` the water-pipes iudependently of the surrounding walls of the drum, substantially as and i'or the purpose described.

G. In a feed-water heater, a set of waterpipes rising from a source ot' water-supply at the base ofthe heater, combined with an upper distributing and scum chamber, E, sustained by and communicating with the watenpipes at their upper ends, said upper distributing and scum chamber being set below the top ot` the main inclosing-druin, substantially as set forth, and having discharge and blow-ottppes extending up through the top of the drum in a manner whereby upon the expansion or contraction ofthe water-pipes the said upper distributing chamber may rise and fall independently ot' the drum, and its discharge and blow-oll'pipes work longitudinally through the top ot1 said drum, substantially as described.

7. In a feed-water heater, the two concentrieally-disposed chambers e and a', combined with a series of pipes, F, disposed within the inner chamber, a series of pipes, F, incorporated within the wall intervening between the two chambers, a steam-inlet passage leading into the inner chamber, at the bottom thereof, and a passage connecting the said inner chamber at its upper end with the outer steamchamber, which latter is provided at a lower point with an outlet,substantially as described.

S. In a feed-water heater, the combination, with the two coneentrieally-disposed steamchambers, of asetof water-pipes rising from a settlingchamber at the base of the apparatus and extending up through the inner one ofthe two concentrically-disposed steam-chambers, al1 upper annular distributingchamber, F, eonnnunieating with and supported by the said waterpipes, said annular distributingchamber serving to close the upperend of the inner steam chamber, except at the point where it provides a passage, c, which said passage opens into an upper steam-space above the annular chamber E, and communicating with the outer annular steam-chamber, a', substantially as described.

9. In a feed\\-'ater heater, the herein-described annularsettling-chamberI), constituting the base of the apparatus and having'a uniform depth throughout its entire arca,eoni bined with and surrounding the straightsteampassage A, which for the entire distance be` tween the horizontal planes oi' thetop and bottom of said chamber extends vertically and centrally up through the chamber, whereby a comparatively large area of water-space ot'unil'orm depth throughout is formed around the straight vertical steam-passage, and the said chamber treed from the presence of any obstructionwhereonsediment1naylodge,in place ot settling directly upon the bottom ofthe chamber, substantially as shown and set forth.

ALFRED M. ROWE.

\Vitncsses:

(liras. G. PAGE, L. S. LOGAN. 

